Taupeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 369, 1 July 1874, Page 2

Taupeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1874. "MEASURES. NOT MEN." "Wk understand," writes our Dunedin evening contemporary, "that Mr. Brown and the Mayor of Lawrence waited on the Provincial Secretary, and urged him to obtain a reeonsidoration of tho committee's application by the Government. If; appeared that the Executive had come to their decision under a misconception of the nature of the work, and as the parties interested have not only undertaken' to defray the co3t of keeping the channel but to guarantee the free use of the water, there is a probability of tlieir wishes being met by the Government." Some kind friend of the Tivipeka district lias been posting-up the Provincial Government in the Sludge Chaunel soheme. We were under the impression that the objection to the scheme emanated from the Glovernment themselves, but we were evidently mistaken. The contaminating influence nwist have issued from some outside source, at present unknown to us. We learn /that the Government had been informed that the whole affair waa merely a dodge on the part of some of tho Blue Spur water lords to get additional salo for their water. Tho enemy, whoever he may have been, could not have devised a more plausible plea to upset the whole affair. The fact of Mr, W. D. Morrison taking an active part in the deputation which waited on his Honor the Superintendent gave an apparent coloring of selfseeking to the scheme which has at the outset retarded it to some extent, but j ■

when tho genuineness of tho project is J understood, no Government which is nut sitting in its own light can refuse to forward the object in view. While we fully acquit Mr. Morrison of being actuated by any interested motives, wo regret that the position he took up, which was one, we believe, solely for the furtherance and development of the district, should have been purposely misconstrued by some designing individual. To those who are acquainted with the subject, the objection that the scheme is one to further the sale of water at the Blue Spur, is very amusing were it not dangerous to its success. It is well known that the race owners of the Blue Spur have hitherto had barely sufficient water for ordinary sluicing purposes ; and further, that they make no claim to the water after it is discharged from their tail races. We are glad the Mayor and Mr. Brown have so far disabused the minds of the leading members of the Executire on this matter as to get from them a promise that they will at once obtain an independent report on the scheme from one of their own qualified officers. This is all tl^t need be expected. ,The facts will speak for themselves. • j& meeting of the Channel Committee is called for to-morrow, and we have no doubt they will keep the Government to their promise, and have the scheme reported upon without delay, so that it may be brought before the General Assembly early in the session.